Apple tree EarleeGrannee strain

ABSTRACT

The presently described apple tree originated as a genetic bud sport on a Summerland strain of non-spur, unpatented, Granny Smith apple tree in the Calvin L. Cooper orchard located near Brewster, Wash. The new variety of apple tree is somewhat more compact in structure than is its parent, but otherwise is generally similar to the latter with respect to trunk, branches, leaves and flowers. However, its fruit is uniquely characterized by its property of maturing early, i.e. up to 14 days earlier than the fruit of its parent regular Granny Smith variety. This property is evidenced by early loss of the characteristic white spots from its skin, and in particular by early and substantial rise in soluble solids content and early, rapid, and substantial drop in total acidity. It also is noticeably lighter in color.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of appletree, specifically to the Early Granny variety, now, by change of name,denominated the EarleeGrannee variety.

I discovered my new variety of apple tree in my cultivated apple orchardlocated near Brewster, Wash. It was a member of a group of treescomprising cuttings of the Summerland (regular) strain of non-spurredGranny Smith apple tree grafted in the year 1976 to Merton-Malling 111(MM111) root stock.

As time went on, and specifically about the year 1979, I noticed thatone of the trees of the group had decidedly unique characteristics. Itwas medium in size. The structure of the tree itself was more compactthan the structure of its companion Granny Smith apple trees.

Its fruit was particularly unique. As it matured, the fruit becamenoticeably lighter in color. The white spots characteristic of theconventional Granny Smith apple disappeared to a greater extent. Theflesh of the fruit became very white.

In particular, the eating qualities of the fruit improved at an earlydate. The fruit became sweeter in taste. Controlled tests indicatedearly maturing, as evidenced by early rise in total soluble solids andan early, rapid, and substantialdrop in total acidity. Maturation of thefruit occurred up to 14 days earlier than maturation of the fruit of thestandard Granny Smith apple tree. In addition, the fruit harvestcontained a noticeably increased proportion of dessert qualityspecimens.

During the years subsequent to 1979, I propagated bud wood from theparent tree onto suitable root stock and established that the notedcharacteristics of early maturing of the fruit persisted to the fourthgeneration.

In the year 1981, for example, I conducted tests comparing the solublesolids and acid content of my new "EarleeGrannee" apples with the sameproperties of standard Granny Smith apples. The apples tested were grownin the same or neighboring orchards and were picked and tested on thesame day. The tests were carried out by USDA personnel in the USDAlaboratories located at Wenatchee, Wash. The results are tabulatedbelow:

    ______________________________________                                        Standard                                                                      Granny Smith   "EarleeGrannee"                                                       Soluble         Soluble                                                                              Increase    Decrease                            Date   Solids   Acid   Solids (%)    Acid (%)                                 ______________________________________                                        8/31/81                                                                              9.2      1.022  10.2   11     .811 21                                  9/7/81 8.7      .985   10.7          .794                                     9/14/81                                                                              9.6      .922   11.2   14     .771 16                                  9/21/81                                                                              9.8      .924   11.2          .694                                     9/28/81                                                                              11.8     .841   11.8          .673                                     10/12/81                                                                             11.0     .771   11.6    5     .652 15                                  ______________________________________                                    

The foregoing test results conclusively establish the early maturing andearly development of desirable eating qualities in my hereindescribednew apple variety "EarleeGrannee".

A more detailed botanical description of my new apple tree variety andof its fruit follows. In this description, the color values recited arein accordance with the Nickerson Color Fan published by the AmericanHorticultural Council, Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plains, Mass.

The description is made with particular reference to the drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of a cluster of limbs of my new EarleeGranneeapple tree variety, illustrating the compactness of the tree and theclustering habit of the fruit which it bears.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of one of the fruits of my new apple treevariety, labelled by its original name "Early Granny Smith". Alsoillustrated for purposes of comparison is the fruit of a standard orregular Granny Smith apple tree. The loss of skin spots and lighteningof skin color upon maturing are evident. Both apples were grown in thesame agricultural area, and both were picked on the same day.

FIG. 3 is a photograph comparing the appearance of my new apple variety,designated by its original name of "Early Granny Smith", with theappearance of regular Granny Smith, and of two hybrid, spur-type, GrannySmith apple trees, i.e. the Greenspur Granny Smith and the GranspurGranny Smith. All four apples were grown in the same or adjacentorchards and were picked on the same day.

FIG. 4 is a photograph of specimen apples of the same varieties shown inFIG. 3, with the specimens cut in half. All specimens were grown in thesame or adjacent orchards, and were picked on the same day. The earlymaturity of the hereindescribed "EarleeGrannee" (Early Granny Smith)apple is evident as shown by (1) the dark brown color of the seeds and(2) the whiteness of the flesh.

Parentage: Discovered as an early maturing, budded, whole tree from the"Summerland" strain of regular Granny Smith. Original tree wasdiscovered from a 1976 graft on MM111 rootstock.

Date of fruit maturity: Matures 7-10 days earlier than standard GrannySmith. In Brewster, Wash., fruit was mature (Total Soluble Solidsexceeded 11%) on Oct. 1 in 1982 and 1983.

Tree: Medium size, of moderate vigor with internodes slightly morecompact than "Granspur" (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,676) and much morecompact than regular Granny Smith (Average internodal length on 1-yearold shoots=18 mm of EarleeGrannee vs 21 mm on Granspur and 28 mm onregular Granny Smith under Brewster, Wash., growing conditions). Tree isvery precocious.

Trunk: Medium thick, spurs slightly closer together than "Granspur".

Leaves: Large, ovate point tapered, margin slightly serrated. Length 90mm to 100 mm, width 65 mm to 70 mm, color, strong yellowish green (2.5G5/9) petiole; long, medium thick, moderately pubescent.

Flowers: Color: Petals white to pale purple (7.5P 9/2), stigma and stylelight green (2.5GY 8/9), filament white, anther brilliant yellow green(2.5GY 9/8).

Bloom:

First bloom.--Apr. 23, 1983.

Full bloom.--Apr. 27, 1983.

Fruit: Maturity when described=Mature from tree (Oct. 4, 1983).

Size.--Medium, Equatorial diameter 75 mm to 90 mm.

Form.--Uniform, rounded to slightly oblate (L/D ratio 0.98).

Cavity.--Smooth, deep, conical, symmetrical. Depth 15 mm to 18 mm. Width24 mm to 29 mm.

Stem.--Medium to heavy, flexible, strongly attached.

Calyx.--Sepals, pointed, prominent in a large basin, pubescent.

Basin.--Smooth, rounded shoulder, depth 12 mm to 15 mm. Width 28 mm to32 mm.

Skin.--Smooth, glossy, medium thickness (slightly thinner than StandardGranny Smith). Dots (lenticles) small, white, evenly distributed overshoulders and main portion of the fruit but more numerous in basin.Color: brilliant yellow green (2.5GY 8/9) with a tendency for theexposed side of the fruit to form a brilliant greenish yellow blush (10Y9/9). Flavor tends to be tart, but less so than fruit of regular GrannySmith.

Flesh.--White, crisp, very little green color at skin. Cut surfaceremains white, flavor sweet and mild.

Core.--Core line visible in cross-section, ovate seed cavities, vascularbundles inconspicuous, calyx closed, narrow, long; styles persistent.

Stamen.--Single whorl, persistent.

Seeds.--Number 4 to 7 at maturity. Length 6 mm to 7 mm, breadth 4 mm to5 mm. Shape is acute, color is mixed shades of reddish brown (10YR5/69).

Use: Fresh dessert, baking or processing.

Keeping quality: Shelf life good, 150 to 160 days in cold storage.

Unique characteristics of fruit: Fruit gains a high level of sweetnessand the flesh loses its green color well ahead of "Granspur" or regularGranny Smith.

Comparison: Compared to "Granspur" or regular Granny Smith, the fruitmatures earlier in side-by-side growing conditions. This is of economicimportance as the early market for Granny Smith type apples cannot betaken advantage of with any other cultivar. Also this cultivar can bepicked ahead of inclement fall weather, while regular Granny Smithapples are often damaged by fall cold in late October before they can bepicked.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Granny Smith apple treesubstantially as herein shown and described, characterized by itscompact form and by the early maturing of its fruit with respect to thewhiteness of its flesh, the loss of the characteristic (to Granny Smithapples) white spots from its skin, the development of skin of a lightergreen color, and, in particular, by early and substantial rise insoluble solids content and early, rapid and substantial drop in totalacidity.